Just a few words about the data browser component. In the first line I see this component as a developer/admin tool. I work most of the time on legacy databases. Implementing new features (or fixing broken ones) often requires a view on the data (how many records, query, distinct values and so on): something the data browser does for you, much better than the user mode.
The data browser offers a view on all the tables and fields of a database. You can select on a user base what tables and fields to display. Still it is a table based view on the database. Depending on the data structure it could be used as a shell for further development. Very often I have to deal with poorly designed data structures. In such cases the data browser is not the ideal tool to build an end user UI. IMO it is impossible to build a shell that addresses all needs and situations, simply because it is difficult to build "generic" solutions for problems such as business tasks. But it is possible to build generic solutions for technical problems. Such as a set of utility methods. If you have to work on several (legacy) databases and you have not yet created your suitcase of utility methods (as a component), I strongly recommend to start building it now. It takes time and it's a never ending story. In my case it was and still is worth every hour I spend on building the FSUty component. It reduces development time (sometimes drastically) and improves the overall quality of a project. And relaxing: after a hard day's work on legacy code (high ratio of WTF/min), spending some time in my own little, more or less well organized, world is almost like listening music with a glass of single malt. ;-) Olivier -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: 4D_Tech [mailto:[email protected]] Im Auftrag von Scott Staley Gesendet: Samstag, 27. August 2016 18:17 An: [email protected] Betreff: Re: AW: Show form on startup Sorry, this is a bit off topic... Mr Oliver, I wanted to say thanks for the work you put into the Databrowser component. I recall seeing your announcement that it was available awhile back and I vaguely recall checking it out. I took another look at it when you commented on this topic and I really missed the treasure trove that you provided. fyi... I've been working on a shell of my own but my interface is very different than how you've tried to recreate the user mode so I can't take too much advantage of the FSDataBrowser.4dbase part of the competent. There are some things that I don't have a strong handle on that I will be reviewing how you dealt with such as transaction processing. The real treasure (IMO) is the FSUty.4dbase part of the component. It has something on the order of 194 utility methods covering some 25 topics. It's well organized with consistent coding formats. I've been building my own set of utility methods as a part of the shell I'm working on so I appreciate the work you've put into this. I imagine many folks on this forum already have built development shells and created their own set of utility routines. i'm a bit of an oddball. I'm an engineer by education and a project manager by trade and not a software developer like most on this forum. I'm a bit of a 4D hobbyist and I use it to help manage projects. However, I see many people asking questions on how to do things that you've have implemented in this component so I would assume many others will benefit as well. Again... thanks for the work you put into this and for making it available. -- View this message in context: http://4d.1045681.n5.nabble.com/Show-form-on-startup-tp5746955p5746996.html Sent from the 4D Tech mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ********************************************************************** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:[email protected] ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:[email protected] **********************************************************************
